Slide rule



2 Sheets-Sheet l C. SOLOMON sept. 25, 1951 SLIDE RULE Filed Jan. 14, 1949 H -H U|M Nrw Sept. 25, 1951 c. SOLOMON 2,569,202

S LLLLLL LE Filed Jan. 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4. l

l INVENTOR. l OEOL SOLOMON -f BY 77Min@ ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE SLIDE RULE Cecil Solomon, blew York, N. Y.

Application January 14, 1949, Serial No. 70,939

My invention relates to improvements in slide rules, and is particularly related to a slide rule which is primarily adapted to be used in fur or pelt cutting.

In the manufacture of garments made from mink skins and other small fur skins or pelts, it is necessary to lengthen individual skins to conform to pattern specifications. This lengthening of the skins isknown in the trade as the lettingout or dropping process, and reference will hereinafter be made to the process as such.

In letting-out ya fur skin or pelt, the skin is cut into a number of parallel slices which are often diagonally disposed. After cutting, the slices are arranged in order, with each slice extended or dropped a pre-determined distance beyond the preceding slice, and the slices are then sewn together. This process, which will be hereinafter described in greater detail, results in the lengthening and narrowing of the skin, according to the number of cuts made and the degree to which each slice is dropped Heretofore, it has been necessary to compute mathematically the number of slices necessary to conform a particular skin to pattern requirements, in the letting-out process. These computations are necessary in order to select a skin of the proper length, and to insure that there is no undue waste of fur. Because of the differing requirements for each skin, these calculations are time-consuming, tedious, and subject to costly error.

It is the principal object of my invention, therefore, to provide a slide rule which will conveniently, easily and quickly compute the number of cuts required in letting-out or dropping fur skins.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a slide rule which will completely eliminate the mathematical calculations which are necessary in computing the number of cuts to be made in a skin in the "letting out process.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a slide rule which will automatically and simultaneously compute the required number of cuts to be made in both the head and rump por- -tions of a fur skin or pelt, according to pattern 4 Claims. (Cl. 23S-70) specifications when a different degree of drop- Y page is required in each of the said portions.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects of my invention will be readily yapparent in the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which:

i similar means.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the slide rule embodying my invention, shown in a greatly reduced scale, a fur skin being shown as it is used with the slide rule;

Fig. 2 is la front elevation of the slide rule of Fig. 1, drawn to a larger scale, with portions thereof being broken away for convenience of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on a still larger scale taken through line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a typical pattern which is utilized in the manufacturing operation in which the slide rule is employed;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a mink skin let-out -according to the readings of my slide rule; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a skin which is cut for "letting out.

The slide rule of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 1-3, and comprises an angular support member B and an upper slide A which is horizontally slidable thereon. Support B has a base Wall E and an upright arm U which is disposed at an acute angle thereto. The base wall is adapted t0 rest upon a flat surface such as a table, and when so positioned, the upright arm U is inclined at a slight angle from the vertical, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper slide A, the support B and all of the parts associated therewith are preferably made of a light metal such as aluminum, although any rigid, inflexible material may be used.

The upper slide A comprises a front flat strip F and a rear retaining member J. The upper end of the retaining member J may be posteriorly fixed to the flat strip F by welding, riveting or The retaining member J is preferably of the same length as the flat `strip F, and the upper end thereof is secured to the upper end of said flat strip F by lany convenient means of attachment. The lower, depending unattached end of retaining member J is sufficiently spaced from the ilat strip F so that slide A may be slidably inserted on the upper end of the upright arm U of support B, as shown in Fig. 3.

A second flat front strip G is xedly secured to the lower front surface of the angle arm U of support B. This flat strip G is positioned so that its upper longitudinal edge abuts the lower longitudinal edge of flat Strip F when upper slide A is properly inserted on support B.

In the drawings, the upper slide A is shown as being half the length of support B. This is the preferred dimension of the slide rule, although it is to be understood that the slide A and support B may be made in any suitable or desired relative proportions.

The flat strip F of the upper slide A contains on the slices C either one inch, three-quarters of an its outer face three respective scales shown in inch or one-half inch, according to the quality of detail in Fig. 2. These scales are arranged on the Work to be done, as well as the relative propor- Strip F, one above the other, the lowermost scale tions of the pattern strips and fur skins. The being calibrated in inches, the intermediate scale common use of these three measurements in the in 3A inches, and the uppermost scale in l@ inches. trade, explains the piOViSiOn Of the thlee CO1'- Each said scale is numbered consecutively from IeSpOnding Scales On the slide rule.

left to right, the inch scale bearing indicia from After the SliCeS C have been fll'ODDel, the l to 24; the eli inch scale from l to 32; and the skin S has the general shape shown in Fig. 5. 1/2 inch scale from l to 48, 10 Each slice C is sewn to its adjacent precedingf The flat Strip Cr of support member B likeslice and the edges of the let-out skin trimmed wise bears a series of three similar scales: the evenly- The eSSeInbleCl Skin ShOWn in Fie'- 5 iS upper Scale having inoli oalibrations; tno intermade of the slices located above the broken line X mediate scale 3A; inch calibrations and the lower in Fig- 6 It iS readily eplel'ent that the eS- scale 1/2 inch calibrations, Those soalos of sup- 15 sembled,1etout skin is longer and narrower than port B read from right to left. The calibrations the Original Skin A Skin heCOlneS lOneel and on the inch scale are arranged from one inon to narrower proportionately with the number of cuts 48 inches, made, as well as the amount that each slice is To fully explain the use of the above described dr0pped" slide rule, it will be necessary to describe the The -Piooess iS SOmeWhet Complieeted, hOW- letting-out process of fur manufacture in some eVei', by the feet that the Skins are Ilot 0f a unidetail. For this description, reference will be form Width- Each Skin has e Teletively nerlOW made to Figs. 4-6. head portion H, and a relatively wide rurnp por- Fig. 6 illustrates the shape of a mink skin betion R. As shown in Figl, 2L line K iS drawn ici-e the skin is lei-cut. The skin is cui iengi- :s on the beek of the skin eeross the shoulder portudinauy down die middle et M as iuuctrated, and tion thereof, at the point Where the heed p01'- each half is separately worked. For convenience tion H J'OinS the rump peltiOn P. Since the Skin of description, each half S will be hereinafter reiS t0 be let Ollt in Such a manner that its Width erred to simply as a skinf conforms to the even width of the pattern strips Fig. 4 shows a typical coat pattern to which 80 L, it S neCeSSal'y t0 let out the lllnil) Deltion R the skins s are applied. The pattern is marked. to o greater degree than the hood portion H.

off into a plurality of longitudinal strips L. Fig. OloViOilSlyy Snee the TLlInD pOltiOn iS lenethened 4 Shows the pattern partially marked, but it ls to a greater degree than the head portion, it will to be understood that in practice, the entire patalso be narrowed to et Collespondihgly greater tern is divided into these strips L. The area of deelee- It has been found that for most mink each strlpLlS then measured and a Sklnls selected skins or pelts, the most satisfactory results are which has at least the same area. The skin is seproduced by dropping the SliCeS Of the head lected after it has undergone the usual preliminary DOItiOn H 1/2 inCh, and thOSe O the illlnp p0rsteps of stretching, matching, setting up, and retion R either 3A inCh O11 one inch. In Order t0 ducing. A mink skin is generally small, usually 40 lengthen the Skin t0 the length of the pattern, averaging 22 inches in length. Since the strips il' is necessel'y to Compute the Humber of Cuts L of the pattern are usually long and narrow, it is t0 be mede in the romp seotlon aS Well 2l5 the necessary to out the Skins in suon s manneltnat number of cuts to be made in the head section.

its shape and dimensions will conform exactly By Way of illustration, il? Will be aSSUlned that with the shape and dimensions of the pattern the pattern strip has been measured, and found strip L, It is ci primary importance in this cutt0 be 401/2 inches in length A Skin S is selected ting, however, to maintain the texture and markand ls found to be 201/2 inches in length. It iS ings of the skin in a natural manner. In Order necessary, therefore to lengthen the skin to the to accomplish this object, the letting-out or length of the pattern strip, which means that droppingn process is utilized, as follows: the skin will have to be lengthened 2O inches.

The skin S is out diagonally in Such a manner The shape of the skin and the quality of the Work as to provide a series of parallel narrow fur slices requires that the heed portion H be Provided C cut on the bias, throughout the entire length With 1/2 inch dropsi While the Tumi) Doltlon ls of the skin as shown in 6. After the skin t0 be provided With 3A neh drops The fur S has been out, each slice C is drawn a,long its cutter is now confronted with the problem of longitudinal axis until it extends beyond its preproviding both the head and romp Pol'llohs with ceding strip for a predetermined distance as shown the exact number of Cuts neoessel'y so that When by the Stopped arrangement at D in Fig, 5 If the slices are let out to their respective degrees, the slioos therefore, are to be dl-0ppm), One half the assembled skin will be at least 401/2 inches inch, each slice C would be extended at point D long one-half inch beyond its preceding slice. It is According to the oonyehtiohel method, the well-known in the ort that as each slice is exabove problem is met by mathematical calculatended or dropped a. Certain distano@y the skin tion. The head portion is measured and is found 1s lengthened a corresponding distance. For int0 be 51/2 inCheS lOne- The llilnp DOltiOn iS 15 stance, if a slice is dropped one inch beyond its inches long- By eXPel'iehCe in Wolk of thiS type preceding slice, the skin will be ienguiened one the cutter knows that the head portion should inch. If then, the skin were cut into 25 slices, he lengthened t0 12 inCheS. The eetlletl 51/2 iIiCh each of which was dropped one ipoliy the skin length is therefore subtracted from the l2 inch would be lengthened 0r let-Out a total of 25 desired length, indicating that the skin must be inches. If the 25 slices had been dropped ya inch 70 lenethened 61/2 additional inches. Since each each, the skin would have been lengthened 121/ slice is to be dropped 1/2 inch, resulting in a gain lneheS- l of 1/2 inch in the length of the skin, the cutter The skin S 1s usually cut in such a manner divides 61/2 inches by l and finds that 13 cuts that all of the slices C are approximately 1A of are required in the head portion. lnch in width. It 1s the usual practice to drop 75 In a Similar manner, the number of cuts in 51., the rump portion is calculated. Since 12y ninches of the 40% inch skin are to be filled by the letout head portion, thispleaves 281/2 inches to be illled by the let-out, inch rump portion. The rump portion must thus be lengthened 131/2 inches. Since the slices of the'rump portion are to be let out 3/4 inch, the cutter divides 13% inches by arriving at the result of 18 cuts, to be made in the rump section.

The use of my novel slide-rule eliminates all of these calculations. To use said slide-rule, it is only necessary to set the zero end Z of the upper slide A over the desired length of the letout skin as indicated on the inch scale of base B, and apply the skin to the slide rule. Accordm ing to the above illustration, the zero end Z of upper slide A is set above LlOl/2 on the inch scale of base B, as shown in Fig. 1. The skin S is then held outstretched above upper slide A with its shoulder line K registering with the desired length of the head portion, or the l2 inch mark,

on slide A. A numeral is read off the appropriate scale on slide A where the terminal edge of the head section l-I registers with said scale. According to the illustration, half-inch drops were to be made in the head portion. Therefore the half-inch scale of slide A is used, and the numeral 13 is revealed. This means that 13 cuts are to be made in the head portion.

In the rump portion R, three-quarter inch drops are to be made. Therefore, the 3%; inch scale is consulted on base B, and it is found that` the terminal edge of the rump portion registers with numeral 18 on said scale. Therefore, the operator is instantly informed that 18 cuts must be made in the rump portion.

If it should be necessary to let out a skin to a greater length than 48 inches, the slide A may be extended -to the left, until the respective numeral on the inch scale of slide A plus 48 inches equals the desired length. The slide rule is then used in the same manner as previously described.

Referring to the same iigures used in the above illustration, the theory of operation of my sliderule may be explained as follows: As was previously stated, the calibrations on slide A are numbered consecutively from left to right, While the numerals on support B read from right to left. Thus, when the zero end Z of slide A is set above a number on the support B inch scale, each succeeding inch marking on slide A will register with a numeral on support B which represents the original number minus the numeral on slide A. The zero end Z of slide A was set above the 401/2 inch marking on support B. When the shoulder line K of the skin S was held above the desired length of the let-out head portion (12 inches) on slide A, the numeral on the inch scale support B registering with this length was found to be 281/2. This indicates that the rump portion R must be let out to 281/2 inches.

vSince the shoulder line K which is in effect the common end of both the head portion H and the rump portion R, was held at the 12 inch marking on slide A, the terminal end of the head portion H will register with a numeral on the slide A which represents the amount which said head portion H must be let-out. In this case, the inch scale on slide A would read 61/2 inches, and the half-inch scale would read 13. Thus 13 half inch drops are required.

Similarly, the terminal edge of the rump portion is read off the appropriate scale on support B. This is the case, since the shoulder line is held over that point on the support B inch scale (the 281/2 inch marking) which represents the desired length of the let-out rump portion. The rump portion R being 15 inches in length, the terminal edge thereof will register with the scale of support B at the 131/2 inch marking or the 18th 3/1 inch marking.

While a, preferred embodiment of my invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous changes, omissions, and additions may be made in my invention Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the slide rule may be made with any so-rt of bottom support which will hold it in an upright position. In addtiion, it is obvious that the scales of either or both flat strips may be arranged one above the other in any order, and that the scales may be numbered in either direction, so long as the direction of the scales of upper slide A and the scales of support member B are numbered in opposite directions.

What I claim is:

1. A slide rule for use in measuring a fur skin having a head portion and a rump portion, and simultaneously computing the number of cuts of a selected width to be made in both said head and rump portions, by direct application of said fur skin to said slide rule, said slide rule comprising an elongated base member having a planar longitudinal scale plate, and a slide member mounted on said base member for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, said slide member also having a planar longitudinal scale plate whose longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said base member scale plate, said slide member scale plate and base member scale plate having front surfaces located on a common plane, each of said scale plates bearing longitudinally-disposed and transversely spaced rows of scales, one scale of each scale plate being calibrated in inch units, the other scales of each scale plate being calibrated in selected-fractions-of-inch units, each calibration of each scale being consecutively and integrally numbered, the scales of each respective scale plate running in the same direction and having starting points which are transversely alined on said scale plate, the numbers of said slide member scale plate reading in the opposite direction to those of the base member scale plate, said slide rule being suiiiciently long to enable said fur skin to be applied directly to the scale plates thereof, whereby, after the proper adjustment of said scale plates relative to one another, the correct cut computations may be read off one scale plate at that point intersecting with the end of the rump portion, and off the other scale plate at that point intersecting with the end of the head portion, said computations being either in inches, or in predetermined selected fractions of inches.

2. A slide rule for use in measuring a fur skin having a head portion and a rump portion, and simultaneously computing the number of cuts of a selected width to be made in both said head and rump portions, by direct application of said fur skin to said slide rule, said slide rule comprising an elongated base member having a planar longitudinal scale plate, and a slide member mounted on said base member for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, said slide member also having a planar longitudinal scale plate whose longitudinal axis is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base member scale plate, said slide member scale plate and base member scale plate having front surfaces located on a common plane, each of said scale plates bearing longitudinally disposed and transversely spaced rows of scales, the scales of each scale plate being calibrated in different units of linear measurement, each calibration of each scale being consecutively and integrally numbered, the scales of each respective scale plate running in the same direction and having starting points which are transversely alined on said scale plate, the numbers of said slide member scale plate reading in the opposite direction to those of the base member scale plate, said slide rule being suiiiciently long to enable said fur skin to be applied directly to the scale plates thereof, whereby, after the proper adjustment of said scale plates relative to one another, the correct cut computations may be read oi one scale plate at that point intersecting with the end of the rump portion, and off the other scale plate at that point intersecting with the end of the head portion, said computations being in any selected unit of measurement on said scale plate.

3. A slide rule for use in measuring a iur skin having a head portion and a rump portion, and simultaneously computing the number of cuts of selected widths to be made in both said head and rump portions during the letting out process of working said fur skin, said slide rule comprising an elongated base member, and a slide member mounted on said base member for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, each of said members having a longitudinal front planar working surface bearing a group of scales arranged in longitudinal rows, said scale groups being in axial alinement and being located adjacent each other, one scale of each group being calibrated in a selected unit of measurement, the other scales of each group being calibrated in selected fractions of said unit of measurement, the calibrations of each scale being consecutively and integrally numbered with all the numerals of one scale group reading in the opposite direction to the numerals of the other scale group, said front working surfaces having a free and unobstructed area forwardly thereof and said slide rule being sufficiently long to enable said fur skin to be applied directly to said front working surfaces whereby cut computations may be read off one scale group at that point intersecting with the end of the rump portion, and oir the other scale group at that point intersecting with the end of the head portion, said computations being read from any selected scale of said group.

4. A slide rule according to claim 3 in which the scales of each scale group begin on a common transverse line.

CECIL SOLOMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 884,729 Grondahl Apr. 14, 1908 1,443,855 Swaim Jan. 30, 1923 2,059,289 Svensson Nov. 3, 1936 2,060,528 Powell Nov. 10, 1936 OTHER REFERENCES Fig. 1621 on page 192 of Keuffel & Esser Companys catalogue of 1909, published by Keuifel & Esser Co., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Pages 2 and 3 of Graphical and Mechanical Computation by Joseph Lipka, published by John Wiley and Sons, in New York, in 1918. 

